The Minnetonka PW B2 Blue “Warriors” finished an outstanding season by capturing the District 6 National Division title this weekend. It was an outstanding season, and the team was especially tough in tournaments. The Warriors brought home two titles (Anoka being the other) and finished 2nd twice, with a season tournament record of 13-3.

Minnetonka started the tourney as the #2, earning a bye into the quarterfinals where they would face a familiar foe Edina Green. These teams had met 6 times prior, each team winning 3 closely contested games. Minnetonka finished the regular season by defeating Edina Green 5-1 and jumped out to convincing 4-1 lead after two periods. The Warriors came out flying, outshooting Edina 29-10 after two periods and were in complete control. Although the shot count against him was low, goalie Jake Koonce made numerous excellent saves to help Tonka to large lead. Tonka scored early in the 3rd to stretch the lead to 5-1, but that is when Edina started their improbable comeback. Playing with a new found sense of urgency, the Hornets had nothing to lose and started to take chances. Those chances started to pay dividends as they chipped away at the 4 goal deficit by outshooting Tonka 14-5 for the period, eventually tying the game at 5 with only 1:25 left in the 3rd. It was only fitting that this battle between two very good teams would need overtime to be decided. The first overtime did not produce a single shot on goal by either team, as both teams mustered up enough energy to make finding open ice very difficult. The deciding goal happened 15 seconds into the 2nd OT as Joey Sigel pushed hard on the forecheck was able to find the loose puck down behind the goal and sneak it passed the Edina goalie. It was the type of goal the Tonka coaches love and have been preaching all season, a hard working “lunch pail” goal.

The semifinal game brought about another Hornet foe, the #1 seed Edina White. These two teams had met three times previous this season, they split two district games while Edina beat Tonka 3-2 for the championship of the O’Connor tournament in early February. This game lived up to the hype, as these two teams are very evenly matched with many skilled players. Edina came out aggressive and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, as their home building was buzzing. Tonka was able to quiet the crowd by scoring the next goal, making the score 2-1 Edina after one, the edge in shots 11-5 to Edina. Tonka scored early in the second on an excellent power play goal, as PJ Barrett ripped a shot from the point that the goalie got just enough of to slow down but it trickled between his pads and John Des Lauriers was able to stuff it in behind the goalie….tie game 2-2. Edina followed with a power play goal of their own about 4 minutes later to retake the lead. Tonka would take the lead back by scoring two unanswered goals, Cole Schmidt followed by Joey Sigel. Tonka dominated the period, outshooting Edina 8-3 and now leading 4-3. The tide turned once again, as Edina scored less than two minutes into the 3rd on another power play goal. These two teams are both deadly when given a man advantage. The rest of the period was very hard fought, with open ice hard to find. Once again shots were at a premium as Tonka outshot Edina 5-2 for the period. The first overtime was a battle for survival for Tonka as they fought desperately to kill off a 5-3 power play. Edina moved the puck very well and created some great scoring chances, but goalie Aidan Hill made the save of the night by diving all the way across the crease to freeze a bouncing puck as a couple of Edina players were sitting on the doorstep to stuff in the rebound attempt. Tonka survived the first OT with a hustling penalty kill and moved on to the 2nd OT. The second OT was 4 on 4, which means a lot of open ice for very tired players. Play went back and forth and both teams were gassed. Tonka kept using all three lines evenly all night, keeping all the players as fresh as possible. In the end, this proved to be key. With 45 seconds left in the frame, Cole Schmidt found a loose puck at center ice and was able to chip it up the boards and past the Edina defensemen. As he raced toward the net, the weak side D chased to put pressure on, Cole kept his angle, faked the goalie to the near post and was able to drag the puck across to his backhand and slide the puck into the open net for his 3rd goal of the game. It was an excellent hustle play and great move get Tonka the win.

Tonka now had a day off to await their next opponent, someone from the losers bracket would have to beat them twice to take the title. That opponent would prove to be Edina White again, as they easily handled Chaska/Chan Gold in the loser out game 7-1. The rematch proved to be yet another battle between these two teams. Edina scored first, then Tonka scored 3 consecutive goals and looked to take control of the game leading 3-1 with 3 minutes left in the 2nd. Edina scored yet another power play goal to cut the deficit to 3-2 late in the 2nd. With only 8 seconds remaining in the 2nd, Edina would get a momentum changing goal. Tonka was pressuring in the Edina end when a Hornet defender was able to flip the puck high out of the zone just to relieve the pressure. Just as he did this an Edina player was making a change and the puck came to him in perfect stride, he skated uncontested to the Tonka goal and tied the game to end the period. Edina scored early in the 3rd to take a 4-3 lead. The rest of the period was tightly contested, but late in the period there was a scramble in front of the Tonka net and Edina was given a penalty shot opportunity because a Tonka defensemen covered the puck in the crease. Edina converted the penalty shot and added another late goal to win the game 6-3 and set up one final game for the championship of the double elimination tournament.

So, on to Minnetonka Blue vs. Edina White part 3. All their hard work had come down to one final game. These two teams have battled hard all year, now they play each other for the 3rd time in 4 days. It was fair to say the intensity level was high, as was the respect. These are two outstanding teams, I don’t think anyone would argue they are two of the best in the state. Minnetonka made some slight adjustments to their lines, the idea being to be as aggressive as possible on the forecheck and back check, while clogging the shooting lanes. Edina has proven in every matchup to be very good in open ice, it had to be a team effort to slow them down. The game was fast paced from the start as both teams were flying and feeling each other out. Tonka got on the board first as Caleb Skistad took a feed from Randy Helling and was able to roof a shot in the upper corner nearly half way through the 1st. Edina took the first penalty of the game and Tonka didn’t take long to make them pay, PJ Barrett ripped an absolute blast from the point, high glove side, after Ian Cooper won the face-off to Jake Bornhoft who then fed Barrett for the rocket wrist shot. Edina got the important “next goal” by scoring with only :46 left in the 1st to make it 2-1 Tonka after one period. Shots were 7-4 in favor of Tonka.

Tonka was able to steal the momentum back, as Jake Bornhoft found a loose puck at center ice, outraced the Edina D and scored a beautiful snipe shot goal at 10:11 of the second…..3-1 Tonka. The Warriors looked to be in control as goalie Aidan Hill made some excellent saves, but once again the Edina power play helped breath new life into their hopes. Edina scored a power play goal at 1:57 of the period, followed by an even strength goal only 31 seconds later, the game now tied 3-3 after two periods. Edina was the aggressor that period, outshooting Tonka 11-6.

A resurface after the 2nd period gave both teams a chance to recharge their batteries. The Warriors came out highly energized, as they did an impromptu performance of the “Harlem Shuffle” for their fans when they came out of the locker room. Tonka started the 3rd period on a 4 minute power play, due to a double minor penalty at the end of the 2nd period. As these teams proved to each other all year, power plays are deadly. Randy Helling made a nice feed to Cole Schmidt who slid his backhander past the goalie to give Tonka the 4-3 lead just over a minute into the 3rd. Edina survived the rest of the penalty kill, and the next 7 minutes were fast paced and tightly contested. Shots and space were hard to come by for both teams. With 6:35 remaining in the game, Cole Schmidt made yet another game changing play with his forecheck and pressure. He pressured the Edina D near his own blue line, stole the puck, was able to skate past that same defender and fire a hard shot. The goalie made a nice save, but Schmidt secured the rebound and did not miss a second time as he stuffed it past the goalie to give Tonka the 5-3 lead. Tonka could smell the victory now, and the whole team skated the last 6:30 of the game with fresh legs……even though they were tired from the long tournament. Edina was obviously desperate to score and to score quickly, but the Warriors defense was smothering. Each time an Edina player would have the puck, numerous Warriors would swarm. Minnetonka fought the final minutes of the game valiantly, summoning all their remaining energy. Edina managed only 4 shots the entire 3rd period, and only 1 in the final 6:30 of the game. Tonka was able to clear the zone one final time with 6 seconds left, and it was finally over. The Minnetonka PW B2 Blue “Warriors” were the champs!!!! The year long motto for this team was Forecheck, Backcheck, Pass……it’s what we do!!! That is the type of unselfish, team oriented game this team played all year. It was never more evident than this week during the D6 Tourney. This truly was a special team, filled with great kids, wonderful parents and an excellent coaching staff. It was an outstanding season, both on and off the ice, something these boys will remember.

Coaches:

Matt Koonce — head coach
Andy Hill
Tom Cooper
Michael Sigel
Kevin Des Lauriers

Players:

1 — Aidan Hill
3 — Andrew DiFrancesco
4 — Quinn Schrepel
5 — Jake Bornhoft
8 — PJ Barrett
9 — Joey Sigel
10 — Cooper Reynolds
11 — Ian Cooper
15 — Adam Schneck
16 — Nick Hauser
17 — Willy Lutz
18 — Randy Helling
19 — Caleb Skistad
21 — Cole Schmidt
23 — John Des Lauriers
33 — Jake Koonce